Beanpot Fever!

I'm not talking about this:

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I'm talking about THIS:

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My alma mater has made it to the finals! GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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These are a few of my favorite things...

Here are some of my most favorite "new" things/things I've recently discovered:

My new sneakers to help me accomplish one of my "40 Before 41" goals -- Couck to 5K program. They're super comfy and I can't wait until this snow clears up and I can get out there and start running!

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I've always been a big yogurt fan and when I heard about the Greek yogurt fad, I resisted. I figured I didn't need fancy yogurt, just your everyday Stonyfield. Then I broke down. I got Chobani Greek Yogurt and I LOVED it!!!!! It's so much more filling than regular yogurt.  These are my two fave flaves:

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Over the past year, I've become a huge fan of the TV show, "Criminal Minds." Over the past month, I've discovered "NCIS." LOVE IT!!!! Love Abby and McGee. They're hilarious. A recent episode guest starred Bob Newhart -- a TV icon. That gained the show even more points in my eyes!

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Another item on my "40 Before 41" list is to try five new restaurants. Well, for my birthday, John and I tried Agave Mexican Bistro in Newburyport, MA. I'd heard great things about it and we both love Mexican food, so I was eager to give it a shot. I had my hair cut right before we went and my hairdresser gave me some great tips. She recommended the Red Cactus Margarita. Awesome! It's a raspberry-flavored margarita on the rocks. Mucho yummy. She also recommended sitting on the third floor. While that didn't end up happening, it's a good tip for next time. I had a pulled chicken burrito and John had carne asada tacos with sangria. If you're in the neighborhood, try it -- four stars.



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Pet Peeves du Jour

1. When a fellow student sits in the first row and spends the ENTIRE three hours of class flicking her ponytail back and forth. (Sit in the back row if you want to do that!)
2. When a fellow student has a running dialogue going with herself throughout the ENTIRE three hours of class...out loud. (Keep it to yourself!)
3. When the vending machine is SOLD OUT of everything you choose.
4. When someone hits your car...and doesn't leave a note...and the driver's side door won't open more than a foot.
5. When you have to wait over 1/2 hour to see a doctor.

Yes, I realize that things could be a lot worse in life, but these are what they are...pet peeves.

Don't Be Fooled by "Fool's Gold"

"Fool's Gold" starring Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson is perhaps one of THE WORST movies I've ever seen. It takes A LOT for me to say that.

I must admit that I was initially mesmerized by McConaughey's hunkyness and figured I'd enjoy the movie no matter what. WRONG. He's awful. Kate Hudson? Awful. Writing? Awful. Major nosedive in Donald Sutherland's career? Right.

It's of the "mindless entertainment" genre, which I enjoy on occasion. (Don't get me wrong -- I'm not all about HAVING to watch a movie like "Schindler's List" if I'm going to watch one at all. I love "Legally Blonde" and have no problem admitting it.) "Fool's Gold" however, is beyond mindless. It's not funny. It has some big names (as previously mentioned), but they're so out of place in the movie it's ridiculous. The plot is about as thin as Saran Wrap.

So, even McConaughey's tanned bod and Southern charm couldn't keep me interested for 1 hour & 43 minutes. Two thumbs down.

40 Before 41

Blogroll please....

I've finished writing my "40 Before 41" list. I want to accomplish the following 40 things before the end of my 40th year (February 2nd, 2013). I've given myself plenty of time and I've already started on some of them. Here goes...

1. Read 50 books in one calendar year.
2. Finish my master’s degree.
3. Lose 25 lbs.
4. Take an advanced calligraphy class.
5. Post at least eight times per month on my blog.
6. Complete the Couch to 5K program.
7. Hang out with my friends more often (or talk more often to those I can’t hang out with more due to geography.)
8. Have one room in our basement finished.
9. Revisit horseback riding (which I haven’t done some since summer camp in elementary school).
10. Go on vacation again to Rehoboth Beach, DE.
11. Buy a houseplant and nurture it so that it will live for at least one month. (I’m setting my sights low.)
12. Watch Netflix movies within two weeks.
13. Have a gathering of friends at our house.
14. Drink only one soda per day.
15. Go on a vacation with my mom.
16. Play tennis with my husband at least twice.
17. Go parasailing.
18. Join the technology revolution and get an iPhone.
19. Go through the plastic tubs of photos from my grandparents’ house and scan the ones I want to have copies of.
20. Create a photo wall of family pics in the front entryway.
21. Take a cooking class.
22. Finish an entire game of Monopoly.
23. Get up early on Black Friday and go shopping.
24. Go to a Bon Jovi concert.
25. Follow through with my cleaning schedule for an entire month.
26. If #3 is not accomplished, at least go down one pant size.
27. Exercise enough so that I do not have to take pills for high cholesterol anymore.
28. Go to a professional development event, i.e., ALA.
29. Turn in a school assignment a whole day before it’s due.
30. Try downhill skiing.
31. Go out for tapas.
32. Put money into savings each month.
33. Get the entire “Bones” series from Netflix and watch them all!
34. Join a book club.
35. Do SOMETHING with my wedding dress.
36. Revisit crocheting.
37. Try 5 new restaurants.
38. Try yoga.
39. Pay off at least one credit card.
40. A wild card item—my choice.

What do you think? Will I do it? Do YOU have a list of things you want to accomplish before your next significant birthday?

Randomness

1. I am two days away from my 39th birthday. My LAST birthday in the 30's. Ugh. However, I will be posting my "40 Before 41" list, which I'm eager to get started on!
2. If it snows anymore here, I'll need to snoeshow to work.
3. Started my class last week and I'm liking it and my professor. I have to design a database and I've chose to design one to organize data from John's songbooks.
4. I had a very nice pre-birthday celebration tonight with John & my stepdaughter, G. They made me pork chops with cream of mushroom soup gravy, rice, and applesauce. My favorite childhood meal. G. also gave me a beautiful card and a "K" charm and a pink "K."
5. I've decided that if it's humor you're looking for in fiction, then British authors are the way to go. They're just funnier. Period.